Source: Modern Ghana

In a decisive response to the nation’s escalating deforestation crisis, Nviron Hive and Tree Aid have unveiled a landmark environmental initiative to plant and regenerate 200,000 trees across 1,300 hectares in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region. This is to support reforestation works happening across the country

The ambitious project, spearheaded by a newly formed Coalition of Businesses, seeks to directly fund the planting of 100,000 trees while utilizing assisted natural regeneration to restore an additional 100,000. The launch comes as Ghana grapples with alarming environmental data; the country lost 77,000 hectares of natural forest in 2024 alone, contributing to an estimated annual national forest loss of 315,000 hectares.

The programme aligns with the government’s “Tree for Life Campaign” and supports Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement. It promises a holistic approach, targeting ten specific communities within the municipality with climate resilience training and livelihood interventions.

A Blueprint for Cooling and Commerce

Experts argue that large-scale restoration projects like this are critical for urban and rural heat control. Trees act as natural air conditioners, providing shade and releasing water vapor that cools the air. Without them, former forested areas in the north are turning into heat islands, increasing energy costs and health risks.

The Yendi project mirrors successful climate mitigation strategies seen elsewhere. As reported in a recent Modern Ghana feature on similar efforts, tree planting is one of the most cost-effective methods for lowering ambient temperatures and protecting against desertification. Urban forestry studies consistently show that shaded surfaces may be 20–45°F cooler than peak temperatures of unshaded surfaces, underscoring the necessity of initiatives like the one in Yendi.

Beyond heat mitigation, the project carries significant economic weight. The organisers revealed the initiative will create more than 250 seasonal jobs and train roughly 1,250 farmers in climate-smart agricultural practices. In total, 1,550 people are expected to benefit directly, with approximately 3,000 others benefiting indirectly.

To ensure long-term sustainability, ten Village Tree Enterprises will be established to help women and youth process non-timber forest products and agricultural produce. Organizers confirmed that 70% of these enterprises will be women-led, promoting gender inclusion. Participating households are projected to see their incomes rise by 20–25% through shea, honey, and moringa value chains.

Private Sector Joins the Fight

The coalition represents a push for private sector leadership in climate action. Co-Founder of Nviron Hive, Otema Yirenkyi, stated that businesses cannot afford to stand by while the country’s natural capital deteriorates.

“Ghana loses 77,000 hectares of forest every year. The Coalition of Businesses exists because we refuse to let that define our country’s future,” Mr. Yirenkyi said. “What we are building in Yendi is proof that Ghana’s private sector can and must lead on climate action.”

Tree Aid, the implementing partner, brings nearly four decades of dryland restoration expertise to the table. Since 1994, the organization has planted and grown more than 11 million trees in northern Ghana and brought over 7,853 hectares of land under sustainable management in the country. Globally, Tree Aid supports the sustainable management of about 264,000 hectares.

Tree Aid Country Director for Ghana, Jonathan Anecham Naaba, emphasized that short-term planting without community support fails. “Thirty years of working in northern Ghana has shown us what communities can achieve when they have the right support,” he said. “This Coalition unlocks the scale we need to truly turn the tide on land loss, on poverty, and on climate vulnerability.”

The organizers are actively calling on more businesses and institutions to join the coalition to expand the project’s impact across the country, turning the Northern Region into a model for agro-ecological resilience.